First ski trip for beginners: what to pack, renting gear, lift passes and lessons

TUREFF• •0

A first ski trip has a lot of moving parts: kit you do not own, a ticket system you have never seen and a mountain full of people who seem to know exactly where they are going. None of it is complicated once it is laid out. This is the order to think about things in.

Pick a resort that suits beginners

Not every resort is kind to first-timers. Look at the piste map before you book and check for:

a good-sized beginner area near the base, ideally with a magic carpet (a conveyor belt you stand on) or a gentle drag lift
plenty of green runs (or blue in Europe, where green is less common) for when you leave the nursery slope
a ski school with group lessons in a language you understand
accommodation close to the lifts or a free shuttle, because walking in ski boots carrying skis is tiring

Renting vs buying

For a first trip, rent the hard gear: skis, poles, boots and a helmet. You do not yet know what length or stiffness suits you, and rental shops will fit everything to your height, weight and ability. Book ahead in busy weeks, and tell the shop honestly that you are a beginner. Boots matter most. A rental boot should feel snug everywhere, with your heel held down and your toes just brushing the front when you stand up straight; they ease off when you bend your knees. If a boot pinches badly after ten minutes in the shop, ask for another. If you go on to ski regularly, your own boots are usually the first thing worth buying. Clothing is the part to own or borrow: waterproof jacket and trousers, thermal layers, ski socks, gloves and goggles. Our separate guide on what to wear skiing goes through it layer by layer.

What to pack

Waterproof jacket and salopettes or ski trousers
Thermal base layers and a fleece or light insulated mid layer
Two or three pairs of proper ski socks (one pair at a time, never two)
Waterproof gloves or mittens, plus a thin spare pair
Goggles, and sunglasses for lunch on the terrace
High-factor sun cream and SPF lip balm: snow reflects a lot of sunlight and altitude makes it stronger
A small backpack, water bottle and snacks
Blister plasters and any painkillers you normally use
Travel insurance that specifically covers winter sports on piste

Lift passes

Most resorts sell passes by the day or for several days, and some include a beginner-only pass covering just the nursery lifts, which is cheaper and all you need for the first day or two. Many now sell passes online in advance, often loaded onto a card you keep in a pocket away from your phone. Keep the receipt or card number: lost passes can sometimes be replaced if you can prove the purchase.

Lessons: worth every minute

Teaching yourself from videos, or being taught by a friend, is how many people end up frightened and sore. A qualified instructor will get you stopping and turning safely far faster. Options are:

group lessons, usually mornings, cheaper and sociable
private lessons, more expensive but quicker progress, especially if you are nervous

Most beginners start with the snowplough (pizza) to control speed and stop, then progress to linked turns. Expect to be on the nursery slope for the first day at least; that is normal.

The skier responsibility code

Every resort has rules of conduct. In Europe the FIS has ten rules; North American resorts use a similar responsibility code. The basics are the same everywhere:

Stay in control, at a speed that lets you stop or avoid people.
People below you have the right of way. It is your job to avoid them.
Do not stop where you block a run or cannot be seen from above, such as just below a ridge.
Look uphill and give way when you start off or join a run.
Obey signs and keep off closed runs.
If you see an accident, stop to help and alert the ski patrol.
Know how to load, ride and get off a lift safely before you get on one; ask the attendant if you are unsure.

First-day tips

Get to the rental shop the afternoon before, not on the morning of your lesson.
Eat a proper breakfast and drink water; altitude and cold dehydrate you.
Stop before you are exhausted. Most injuries happen late in the day when legs are tired.

If you are planning your first trip, post your questions in the comments, or share what you wish you had known before yours.